Taking Medication for Mental Health, Does It Affect My Visa Application?
Have you started taking medication for your mental health? At the same time, you are wondering if you can apply for a new visa, as you may doubt whether you meet the health criteria. The health criteria for visa applications generally aim to ensure that applicants:
Applicants must not have medical conditions that would pose a risk to public safety or health.
Applicants should not have conditions likely to incur above the significant costs threshold.
Do I Need to do Health Examinations?
Visa applicants may undergo several medical examinations depending on the visa subclass to meet health criteria, which typically include and not limited to:
A general health check to assess overall well-being.
Often required to check for tuberculosis (TB), especially for stays of more than six months or if you are from a country with high TB infection.
Related: What Kind of Health Examinations Do You Need to Complete For Your Visa Application?
What are the Impacts on Mental Health of Visa Applications?
Your health comes first, which includes taking care of your mental health. If you just started taking medication for your depression or anxiety, these are some considerations to note:
Applicants are required to disclose any history of medical issues; this includes mental illness. It is critical to be transparent and not provide any false or misleading information. Otherwise, your visa can be refused.
You must declare ongoing conditions in your visa application. The potential cost and impact on health services are considered. If you exceed the significant amount of AUD 86,000 (current threshold), your visa application may be refused due to not meeting PIC 4005 and PIC 4007.
Additionally, suppose the case officer assesses that the condition might pose a risk to the individual or public or demand significant health services. In that case, your visa application may be at risk of a refusal.
What Happens if My Visa is Refused due to My Health?
If an application is refused due to health criteria, you might be able to appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) or request a waiver by providing additional information to support the case. Speak with an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law for tailored advice and professional assistance.
Related:
How do I Overcome Health Requirements if I Have a Child with Health Issues?
What Are the Differences between Health Insurances - OVHC and OSHC?
Addressing the "One Fails, All Fail" Criteria for Family Members
How Can Agape Henry Crux Help
By adequately preparing, staying informed about the health criteria, and maintaining transparency, applicants can successfully navigate the health examination process and enhance their chances of a successful visa application. Consider speaking with one of our Accredited Specialists in Immigration Law, as they specialise in handling highly complex matters. You can schedule an appointment with us to seek professional advice by calling 02-8310 5230 or emailing us at info@ahclawyers.com.
We speak fluent English, Mandarin and Cantonese. We can also help you arrange an interpreter if this isn't your language.
This article/presentation (“publication”) does not deal extensively with important topics or changes in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you find this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances, please contact our office.
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